銀鼻子&意大利童話
從前,有一個寡婦,帶著三個女兒以替人洗衣為生。一家四口每日竭盡全力洗著衣服,但還是過著忍饑挨餓的生活。一天,大女兒對媽媽說:
「這樣還不如去給魔鬼幹活,我想離家出外謀生。」
「千萬別這樣說,我的孩子,」媽媽說,「這樣你會惹禍上身的。」
沒過幾天,她們家裡來了一位紳士,身著黑衣褲,衣冠楚楚的,長著一隻銀鼻子。
「我聽說您有三個女兒,讓我帶走一個做我的僕人吧。」他對媽媽說。
媽媽對這人的銀鼻子看不慣,要不然,她會立即讓女兒跟他走。她把大女兒叫到一旁,對她說:「人世間長著銀鼻子的人是沒有的,你得留點神,要是跟他走,將來你一定會後悔。」
但女兒急不可待地要離開家,還是跟他走了。他們走了很遠的路,穿過森林,越過高山,到了一個地方,遠遠地看見前邊有一處亮光,好像在著火。「那是什麼?」姑娘問,這時她開始有點擔憂了。
「是我家,我們就去那裡。」銀鼻子說。
姑娘跟著他繼續往前走,全身上下忍不住地哆嗦。他們來到一座巨大的宮殿,銀鼻子帶著她,參觀了所有的房間,一間比一間漂亮,每看一個房間,他都把鑰匙交給她。走到最後一個房間門口,銀鼻子把鑰匙遞給她後說:「這個門你無論如何不能打開,否則,你就麻煩了!這裡的一切,你都可以做主,只有這個房間除外。」
姑娘心想:這裡一定有什麼名堂!她決定等銀鼻子一離開這裡,就打開看看。晚上,姑娘正睡在自己的房間裡,銀鼻子躡手躡腳地走了進來,他走近姑娘的床邊,在她的頭髮上插了一朵玫瑰花,就又躡手躡腳地出去了。
第二天早上,銀鼻子出去辦事了。只剩姑娘一個人拿著一大串鑰匙留在家裡,她立即跑去開那扇被禁止打開的房門。剛打開一條縫隙,就從裡面衝出了好多火苗和煙霧,火苗和煙霧儘是被火燒煉的罪惡的靈魂。姑娘這時才明白銀鼻子就是魔鬼,而這個房間就是地獄。她大叫一聲,立即關上房門,想盡量跑遠一點,離開這個地獄之屋,但火舌還是燒到了她頭上的插著的那朵玫瑰花。
銀鼻子回到家,看到那朵燙焦了的玫瑰花,就說:「怎麼,你就是這樣聽我的話的嗎!」他一把抓住姑娘,打開地獄的門,把她扔進了火中。
第二天,他又來到寡婦家,說:「您的女兒在我那裡住得很好,但活兒太多,她需要個幫手。您能讓二女兒也跟我去嗎?」就這樣,銀鼻子帶著另一個姑娘回到了宮殿。他也給姑娘看了每個房間,把房間的鑰匙也都給她,也對她說所有的房間都可以打開,只有最後那間除外。姑娘說:「您不必擔心,我為什麼要開它呢?我不想瞭解您的私事。」晚上,姑娘上床休息以後,銀鼻子悄悄地來到她的床前,把一朵康乃馨插在她的頭髮上。
第二天早上,銀鼻子一出門,姑娘做的第一件事就是去打開那扇禁門。只見裡面滿是煙霧、火苗,還有罪惡靈魂的嚎叫,在火中她還發現了自己的姐姐。「妹妹,快救救我!把我從這個地獄裡救出去!」姐姐衝她大叫。但姑娘嚇得早已魂飛魄散了,她連忙關上門,拔腿就逃,但不知該躲到哪裡去,因為她確信銀鼻子就是魔鬼,而她早被他捏在手心裡,無處可逃。銀鼻子一回來,首先看姑娘的頭髮,看到康乃馨被烤焦了,便一句話不說,抓起她,把她也扔進了地獄。
次日,銀鼻子照舊穿得像大人物一樣,又來到寡婦家。「我家的活太多,兩個姑娘還幹不完,您把三女兒也讓我帶去,好嗎?」就這樣,他又把三女兒帶了回來。三女兒名叫露琪亞,在三姐妹中,她最有頭腦。銀鼻子也帶她看了每個房間,然後照舊叮囑了她,而且當她睡了之後,也在她的頭髮上插了一朵花,是一朵茉莉花。早上,露琪亞起床後,就去梳頭,照著鏡子,她發現了頭上的茉莉花。她自語道:「看哪,銀鼻子給我插了一朵茉莉花。多優雅的想法!可是,我要讓它保持新鮮。」她把花插在一個水杯裡。梳完頭,看看家裡只剩她一個人,她就想:我現在去看看那扇神秘的門裡有什麼。
剛把門打開,烈火撲面而來,只見裡邊煉著很多人,而且人群中,她發現了她的大姐,然後又看見了二姐。她們大聲叫著:「露琪亞!露琪亞!快拉我們出去!救救我們!」
露琪亞先是關好了門,然後思考如何才能救出兩位姐姐。
魔鬼回來的時候,露琪亞早已把那朵茉莉花又插到了頭上,裝作沒事的樣子。銀鼻子看了一眼茉莉花,說:「噢,還鮮著呢。」
「當然,它怎麼會不新鮮呢?誰會把枯敗的花戴在頭上?」
「不是,我只是這麼說說罷了,」銀鼻子說,「我覺得你是個不錯的姑娘,你要是一直這樣,我們就能一直相處得很愉快。你在這裡還滿意嗎?」
「滿意,我在這裡住得很好,但要不是有放心不下的事,就更好了。」
「放心不下什麼?」
「我離家來這裡的時候,我媽媽身體不舒服。現在我一點她的消息也沒有。」
「要是就這點事,」魔鬼說,「我到你家去一趟,這樣可以給你帶回點那邊的消息。」
「謝謝,您真是個大好人。要是您明天能去,我現在就把這裡的髒東西準備成一個袋子,帶給媽媽,等媽媽身體好的時候好讓她幫忙洗洗。你不會覺得太重吧?」
「哪裡的話,」魔鬼說,「再重的東西我也拿得動。」
等魔鬼一出去,露琪亞馬上去打開了地獄之門,把大姐拉了出來,然後把她裝進一隻口袋。「待在裡邊,別說話,卡爾洛塔。等一會,魔鬼要親自帶你回家。不過,路上你要是覺得他把口袋放在地上,你就要喊:我看見你了!我看見你了!」
銀鼻子來了,露琪亞對他說:「這是一袋要洗的東西。但你真的能一氣不停地把它帶到我媽媽家嗎?」
「你不信任我嗎?」魔鬼問。
「我當然相信你,因為我有這本領:我能看得很遠,反正你把口袋擱在隨便什麼地方停下,我都看得見。」
魔鬼說:「是嗎,等著看吧!」但他對姑娘具有千里眼的法力不以為然。他背起口袋,說:「這包髒東西怎麼這麼重啊!」
姑娘說:「那當然,你有多少年沒洗過一樣東西了?」
銀鼻子上路了。但走到半路,他想:姑娘的話沒錯!不過我還是得看一下,也許她是以送該洗的髒東西為借口,想偷我的東西。於是,他把口袋放在地上,要打開看看。
「我看見你了!我看見你了!」姐姐從口袋裡立即喊起來。
「啊,是真的!她真是千里眼!」銀鼻子說著又背起口袋,一直走到露琪亞媽媽的家。「您的女兒讓我把這袋東西帶回來洗,她還想問問您身體怎麼樣……」
銀鼻子一走,洗衣婦就打開了口袋,當她看到自己的大女兒時,高興的樣子就可想而知了。
一個星期後,露琪亞又假裝憂心忡忡,她對銀鼻子說還想知道媽媽的消息。
她又讓他帶上另一袋的髒東西去她家。於是,銀鼻子又背起她二姐上路了,這一次他又沒看成袋子裡的東西,因為他聽到有人叫著:「我看見你了!我看見你了!」
此時,洗衣婦已知道這個銀鼻子就是魔鬼了,看到他又背著一袋東西來了,緊張得不得了,生怕銀鼻子向她要上次洗好的東西,但銀鼻子把肩上的口袋往地上一放,說:「洗好的東西,我下一次再來取,這包東西太重,壓得我骨頭都快斷了,我要空手回去。」
等銀鼻子一走遠,洗衣婦萬分焦急地打開了口袋,緊緊抱住了自己的二女兒。但隨後就開始替露琪亞擔心,她現在一個人隻身留在魔鬼的手裡。
露琪亞怎麼辦呢?過了不久,她又假裝想瞭解母親的情況。魔鬼此時已經厭倦了替她帶髒衣服回家,不過想到她這麼聽話,也就不忍拒絕。臨行前的晚上,露琪亞說她頭疼得厲害,要先去睡了。「我把準備好的口袋給你留下,這樣,明天即使我不舒服,起不了床,你也可以自己把口袋帶去。」
現在,要知道露琪亞早就縫製了一個玩具布娃娃,跟她自己一樣大。她把布娃娃放在床上,蓋上被子,然後剪掉自己的辮子安在布娃娃的頭上,看上去就像她自己睡在床上一樣。隨後,她又把自己藏在了口袋裡。
早上,魔鬼看到姑娘躺在被窩裡,就背起口袋上路了,邊走邊想:今天她病了,不可能再注意我。這是偷看口袋裡邊到底是不是髒東西的好機會。他放下口袋,剛想打開來看。「我看見你了!我看見你了!」露琪亞喊道。
「啊!她的聲音真真切切的,好像就在耳旁!最好別再跟這姑娘開這種玩笑了。」他背起口袋,一直把它送給了洗衣婦。「我以後來把洗好的東西取走,」他急急忙忙地說,「現在我得趕快回去,因為露琪亞病了。」
就這樣,一家人又團聚了,而且因為露琪亞還從魔鬼那裡帶回很多金幣,足夠全家人幸福、滿足地生活著。她們在家門口立起了一個十字架,魔鬼再也不敢靠近了。
SilverNose
Therewasonceawidowedwasherwomanwiththreedaughters.Allfourofthemworkedtheirfingerstothebonewashing,buttheystillwenthungry.Onedaytheoldestdaughtersaidtohermother,"Iintendtoleavehome,evenifIhavetogoandworkfortheDevil."
"Donttalklikethat,daughter,"repliedthemother."Goodnessknowswhatmighthappentoyou."
Notmanydaysafterward,theyreceivedavisitfromagentlemanattiredinblack.Hewastheheightofcourtesyandhadasilvernose.
"Iamawareofthefactthatyouhavethreedaughters,"hesaidtothemother."Wouldyouletonecomeandworkforme?"
Themotherwouldhaveconsentedatonce,haditnotbeenforthatsilvernosewhichshedidntlikethelooksof.Shecalledheroldestgirlasideandsaid,"Nomanonearthhasasilvernose.Ifyougooffwithhimyoumightwelllivetoregretit,sowatchout."
Thedaughter,whowasdyingtoleavehome,paidnoattentiontohermotherandleftwiththeman.Theywalkedformilesandmiles,crossingwoodsandmountains,andfinallycameinsightofanintenseglowinthedistancelikethatofafire."WhatisthatIseewaydownthereinthevalley?"askedthegirl,growinguneasy.
"Myhouse.Thatsjustwherewearegoing,"repliedSilverNose.
Thegirlfollowedalong,butcouldntkeepfromtrembling.Theycametoalargepalace,andSilverNosetookherthroughitandshowedhereveryroom,eachonemorebeautifulthantheother,andhegaveherthekeytoeachone.Whentheyreachedthedoorofthelastroom,SilverNosegaveherthekeyandsaid,"Youmustneveropenthisdoorforanyreasonwhatever,oryoullwishyouhadnt!Youreinchargeofalltheroomsbutthisone."
Heshidingsomethingfromme,thoughtthegirl,andresolvedtoopenthatdoortheminuteSilverNoseleftthehouse.Thatnight,whileshewassleepinginherlittleroom,intiptoedSilverNoseandplacedaroseinherhair.Thenheleftjustasquietlyashehadentered.
ThenextmorningSilverNosewentoutonbusiness.Findingherselfalonewithallherkeys,thegirlranandunlockedtheforbiddendoor.Nosoonerhadshecrackeditthansmokeandflamesshotout,whileshecaughtsightofacrowdofdamnedsoulsinagonyinsidethefieryroom.ShethenrealizedthatSilverNosewastheDevilandthattheroomwasHell.Shescreamed,slammedthedoor,andtooktoherheels.Butatongueoffirehadscorchedtherosesheworeinherhair.
SilverNosecamehomeandsawthesingedrose."Sothatshowyouobeyme!"hesaid.Hesnatchedherup,openedthedoortoHell,andflungherintotheflames.
Thenextdayhewentbacktothewidow."Yourdaughterisgettingalongverywellatmyhouse,buttheworkissoheavysheneedshelp.Couldyousendusyourseconddaughtertoo?"SoSilverNosereturnedhomewithoneofthegirlssisters.Heshowedheraroundthehouse,gaveherallthekeys,andtoldhershecouldopenalltheroomsexceptthelast."Doyouthink,"saidthegirl,"Iwouldhaveanyreasontoopenit?Iamnotinterestedinyourpersonalbusiness."Thatnightafterthegirlwenttosleep,SilverNosetiptoedinandputacarnationinherhair.
WhenSilverNosewentoutthenextmorning,thefirstthingthegirldidwasgoandopentheforbiddendoor.Shewasinstantlyassailedbysmoke,flames,andhowlsofthedamnedsouls,inwhosemidstshespottedhersister."Sister,freemefromthisHell!"screamedthefirstgirl.Butthemiddlegirlgrewweakintheknees,slammedthedoor,andran.ShewasnowsurethatSilverNosewastheDevil,fromwhomshecouldnthideorescape.SilverNosereturnedandnoticedherhairrightaway.Thecarnationwaswithered,sowithoutawordhesnatchedherupandthrewherintoHelltoo.
Thenextday,inhiscustomaryaristocraticattire,hereappearedatthewasherwomanshouse."Thereissomuchworktobedoneatmyhousethatnoteventwogirlsareenough.CouldIhaveyourthirddaughteraswell?"Hethusreturnedhomewiththethirdsister,Lucia,whowasthemostcunningofthemall.Shetoowasshownaroundthehouseandgiventhesameinstructionsashersisters.Shetoohadaflowerputinherhairwhileshewassleeping:ajasmineblossom.ThefirstthingLuciadidwhenshegotupnextmorningwasarrangeherhair.Lookinginthemirror,shenoticedthejasmine."Well,well!"shesaid."SilverNosepinnedajasmineonme.Howthoughtfulofhim!Whoknowswhyhedidit?InanycaseIllkeepitfresh."Sheputitintoaglassofwater,combedherhair,thensaid,"Nowletstakealookatthatmysteriousdoor."
Shejustbarelyopenedit,andoutrushedaflame.Sheglimpsedcountlesspeopleburning,andthereinthemiddleofthecrowdwereherbigsisters."Lucia!Lucia!"theyscreamed."Getusoutofhere!Saveus!"
AtonceLuciashutthedoortightlyandbeganthinkinghowshemightrescuehersisters.
BythetimetheDevilgothome,Luciahadputherjasminebackinherhair,andactedasthoughnothinghadhappenedthatday.SilverNoselookedatthejasmine."Oh,itsstillfresh,"hesaid.
"Ofcourse,whyshouldntitbe?Whywouldanyonewearwitheredflowersinherhair?"
"Oh,Iwasjusttalkingtobetalking,"answeredSilverNose."Youseemlikeaclevergirl.Keepitup,andwellneverquarrel.Areyouhappy?"
"Yes,butIdbehappierifIdidnthavesomethingbotheringme."
"Whatsbotheringyou?"
"WhenIleftmymother,shewasntfeelingtoowell.NowIhavenonewsatallofher."
"Ifthatsallyoureworriedabout,"saidtheDevil,"Illdropbyherhouseandseehowshesdoing."
"Thankyou,thatisverykindofyou.Ifyoucangotomorrow,Illgetupabagoflaundryatoncewhichmymothercanwashifsheiswellenough.Thebagwontbetooheavyforyou,willit?"
"Ofcoursenot.Icancarryanythingunderthesun,nomatterhowheavyitis."
WhentheDevilwentoutagainthatday,LuciaopenedthedoortoHell,pulledoutheroldestsister,andtiedherupinabag."Keepstillinthere,Carlotta,"shetoldher."TheDevilhimselfwillcarryyoubackhome.Butanytimehesomuchasthinksofputtingthebagdown,youmustsay,Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"
TheDevilreturned,andLuciasaid,"Hereisthebagofthingstobewashed.Doyoupromiseyoulltakeitstraighttomymother?"
"Youdonttrustme?"askedtheDevil.
"CertainlyItrustyou,allthemoresowithmyspecialabilitytoseefromagreatdistanceaway.Ifyoudareputthebagdownsomewhere,Illseeyou."
"Yes,ofcourse,"saidtheDevil,buthehadlittlefaithinherclaimofbeingabletoseethingsagreatdistanceaway.Heflungthebagoverhisshoulder."Mygoodness,thisdirtystuffisheavy!"heexclaimed.
"Naturally!"repliedthegirl."Howmanyyearshasitbeensinceyouhadanythingwashed?"
SilverNosesetoutforthewasherwomans,butwhenhewasonlyhalfwaythere,hesaidtohimself,"MaybebutIshallseeifthisgirlisntemptyingmyhouseofeverythingIown,underthepretextofsendingoutlaundry."Hewenttoputthebagdownandopenit.
"Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"suddenlyscreamedthesisterinsidethebag.
"ByJove,itstrue!Shecanseefromafar!"exclaimedSilverNose.HethrewthebagbackoverhisshoulderandmarchedstraighttoLuciasmothershouse."Yourdaughtersendsyouthisstufftowashandwantstoknowhowyouare"
Assoonasheleft,thewasherwomanopenedthesack,andyoucanimagineherjoyuponfindingheroldestdaughterinside.
Aweeklater,slyLuciapretendedtobesadoncemoreandtoldSilverNoseshewantednewsofhermother.
Shesenthimtoherhousewithanotherbagoflaundry.SoSilverNosecarriedoffthesecondsister,withoutmanagingtopeepinsidebecauseofthe"Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"whichcamefromthebagtheinstanthestartedtoopenit.Thewasherwoman,whonowknewSilverNosewastheDevil,wasquitefrightenedwhenhereturned,forshewassurehewouldaskforthecleanwashfromlasttime.ButSilverNoseputdownthenewbagandsaid,"Illgetthecleanwashsomeothertime.Thisheavybaghasbrokenmyback,andIwanttogohomewithnothingtocarry."
Whenhehadgone,thewasherwomananxiouslyopenedthebagandembracedherseconddaughter.ButshewasmoreworriedthaneveraboutLucia,whowasnowaloneintheDevilshands.
WhatdidLuciado?Notlongafterwardshestartedupagainaboutnewsofhermother.BynowtheDevilwassickandtiredofcarryinglaundry,buthehadgrowntoofondofthisobedientgirltosaynotoher.Assoonasitgrewdark,Luciaannouncedshehadabadheadacheandwouldgotobedearly."Illpreparethelaundryandleavethebagoutforyou,soifIdontfeellikegettingupinthemorning,youcanbeonyourway."
NowLuciahadmadearagdollthesamesizeasherself.Sheputitinbedunderthecovers,cutoffherownbraids,adnsewedthemonthedollshead.thedollthenlookedlikeLuciaasleep,andLuciaclosedherselfupinthebag.
InthemorningtheDevilsawthegirlsnuggleddownunderthecoversandsetoutwiththebagoverhisshoulder."Shessickthismorning,"hesaidtohimself,"andwontbelooking.Itstheperfecttimetoseeifthisreallyisnothingbutlaundry."Atthat,heputthebagdownandwasabouttoopenit."Iseeyou,Iseeyou!"criedLucia.
"ByJove,itshervoicetoatee,asthoughshewererighthere!Betternotjokewithsuchagirl."Hetookupthebagagainandcarriedittothewasherwoman."Illcomebacklaterforeverything,"hesaidrapidly."IhavetogethomerightawaybecauseLuciaissick."
Sothefamilywasfinallyreunited.SinceLuciahadalsocarriedoffgreatsumsoftheDevilsmoney,theywerenowabletoliveincomfortandhappiness.Theyplantedacrossbeforethedoor,andfromthenon,theDevilkepthisdistance.
(Langhe)
NOTES:
"SilverNose"(Ilnasodargento)fromCarraroli,3,fromLanghe,Piedmont.
BluebeardinPiedmontisSilverNose.Hisvictimsarenotwivesbutservantgirls,andthestoryisnottakenfromchroniclesaboutcruelfeudalmastersasinPerrault,butfrommedievaltheologicallegends:BluebeardistheDevil,andtheroomcontainingthemurderedwomenisHell.IfoundthesilvernoseonlyinthisversiontranslatedfromdialectandsummarizedbyCarraroli;buttheDevil-Bluebeard,theflowersinthehair,andtherusestogetbackhomewereencounteredalloverNorthernItaly.IintegratedtherathermeagerPiedmontversionwithonefromBologna(CoronediS.27)andaVenetianone(Bernoni,3).
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980